A price-per-square-foot comparison of two neighborhoods that share a subway line but not a price tag
The median co-op on the Upper West Side sold for $987,500 in June 2026. In Riverdale it was $300,000, about 70% less, according to StreetEasy. Both neighborhoods have a stop on the 1 line, and Riverdale co-ops took 56 days to reach contract against 52 on the Upper West Side. In 25+ years working both markets, the question I hear most is whether Riverdale is too far.
| Co-op Metric (StreetEasy) | Riverdale | Upper West Side |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $300,000 | $987,500 |
| Change from June 2025 | -10.4% | +5.1% |
| Median days to contract | 56 | 52 |
| Days to contract, June 2025 | 106 | 68 |
| Active co-op listings | 280 | 556 |
| Active listings vs June 2025 | unchanged | -21.6% |
Riverdale has a small sample, so a few sales move its median; the RLS snapshot counts only 5 closings in 90 days. Monthly maintenance and building financials are not in either data set, so compare each building's monthly charge and reserve before you compare neighborhoods.
Both neighborhoods have stations on the 1 line, a local train. The Upper West Side also has express service on the 2 and 3 at 72nd Street, and Riverdale has a Metro-North Hudson Line station. I do not quote minute counts here, because they change with the train and the hour. Ride your own route at the time you would commute, with the MTA trip planner, before you decide.
I work both neighborhoods and can show you what your budget buys in each. Get a side-by-side unit comparison.
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Compare current listings in both neighborhoods
25 W 64th Street #2F
Upper West Side
3015 Riverdale Avenue #2A
Riverdale
Listing information provided courtesy of the Real Estate Board of New York's Residential Listing Service (RLS). Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Sale listings verified. ©2026 REBNY. RLS data displayed by Keller Williams NYC.
| Median Co-op Price (StreetEasy) | Feb 2020 | June 2023 | June 2026 | 12-Month Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverdale | $225,000 | $290,000 | $300,000 | $245,000 to $359,000 |
| Upper West Side | $972,000 | $930,000 | $987,500 | $875,000 to $1,235,000 |
Since February 2020, the Riverdale co-op median is up 33.3% and the Upper West Side's is up 1.6%. Both medians swing widely month to month, so judge a building by its own recent sales instead of the neighborhood median.
Over the last year, the Upper West Side co-op median rose 5.1% on a 21.6% drop in listings, while Riverdale's fell 10.4% on flat inventory. In dollars, the Upper West Side gained $47,500 on its median and Riverdale lost $35,000. Riverdale co-ops took 106 days to reach contract in June 2025 and 56 in June 2026, so the gap in time to sell has closed. The Upper West Side is where inventory has tightened.
Visit both on the same Saturday, ride the trains, and look at three units in each at your budget. Related reading: Manhattan vs Brooklyn: what the same budget buys and Brooklyn vs Queens for first-time buyers.
Sources: StreetEasy Data Dashboard, co-op medians and inventory, June 2026; Wave Hill; NYC Parks. RLS data provided by REBNY via Trestle (Cotality). Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. © Real Estate Board of New York. All rights reserved.
Compare current listings in both neighborhoods
2390 Palisade Avenue #5-J
Riverdale
3017 Riverdale Avenue #2J
Riverdale
304 W 89TH Street #1D
Upper West Side
3875 Waldo Avenue #11K
Riverdale
Listing information provided courtesy of the Real Estate Board of New York's Residential Listing Service (RLS). Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Sale listings verified. ©2026 REBNY. RLS data displayed by Keller Williams NYC.
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Disclaimer: All information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or real estate advice.
Listing data sourced from the REBNY Residential Listing Service (RLS). Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Milton Coste is a Licensed Real Estate Associate Broker affiliated with Keller Williams NYC,
360 Madison Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10017. License No. 10301213304.
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Milton Coste
Licensed Real Estate Associate Broker · Keller Williams NYC
License No. 10301213304 · 360 Madison Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10017
